REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION - SAMUEL PRINDLE
Contributed by: Errol Cross (ecross@sypressmail.net)
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Samuel Prindle
State Of Vermont
Rutland County
On this day of August XX, 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the
Probate Court for district of Fairhaven in the County of Rutland now sitting
Samuel Prindle a resident of Poultney in the County of Rutland and State of
Vermont aged 85 years the 30 day of March last who being first duly sworn
according to the law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named
officers and served as here in stated- That in March of 1775 he enlisted in the
New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut in the regiment commanded by Col.
Waterbury. The Maj.'s name was Hawby, the Captain of his company was Joseph
Smith, Ensign Ashbel Ruggles, Orderly Sargent David Smith. That in about one
month after enlisting he marched from New Milford into the Newton through
Norwalk to Horseneck and remained there about one month on drill when Gen.
Washington called on his way to Boston and ordered them to New York. That he in
the regiment commanded by Waterbury and accompanied by three others (he thinks)
marched to that place and encamped a short distance out of the City until
sometime near the first of August when they orders to leave for St John. The he
in company with the same Regiments ascended North River to Albany when he landed
and marched to Half Moon Point now Waterford. That he remained there three or
four weeks when the army was separated into two divisions one to advance to
Ticonderoga by way of Lake George. The other by Lake Champlain. The he marched
to Skeensboro now Whitehall and there took boat to Ticonderoga where the other
division arrive two or three after these - according to the best memory he
remained here four of five weeks and then proceeded with the army under the
command of Gen. Schuyler and Montgomery down the lake in the Batteaux they had
constructed in Ticonderoga to the Isle Aux Noix which on their approach was
abandoned by the enemy who retreated immediately to FT Johns. That he with the
American Army soon followed and landed on the west side of the lake within
nearly one mile from the Fort. This shore the applicant says was then a
wilderness except a cleared place for a few rods on which stood a small log hut
that he with the army had a skirmish with a party of Indians. A few moments
after their arrival, that fifteen Americans were killed and some wounded. Among
the wounded was Maj. Hawby whom the applicant aided in bearing to the boat. That
during this time Gen. Schuyler remained on board the boat and soon after the
engagement with the Indians he saw a well dress gentlemanly appearing man issue
from the woods and make a signal when he was permitted to pass went on board the
boat where Gen. Schuyler had remained and after staying there two or three hours
returned in the same direction he came - That soon after the stranger retired
and the dame day they arrived he with the army were order back to the Isle Aux
Noix where they went and (agreeable to the best the applicants memory) they
remained ten or twelve days. He remembers that the consequence of the above
named occurrence and the delay occasioned by their return; the officers and
solders disaffected with Gen. Schuyler and also during a very dark night a
number of musket balls were fired through his markee when the General
immediately retired to Ticonderoga. That the command then dissolved upon
Montgomery who led the applicant with the American army back to St Johns and
commenced besieging the fort which surrendered after forty-six days. That during
the siege they took a number of prisoners who in small parties endeavored to
obtain a passage into the fort - That he with the American army too between six
and seven hundred prisoners about the last of November he with a hundred
Americans composing a guard for these prisoners and commanded by Capt. Mott
returned to the Isles Aux Noix agreeable to orders. That he with the guard and
prisoners proceeded up the lake and remained over night at the following named
places. The 1st night at Point of Fair, the 2nd night on a small island in the
in order to guard the prisoners with more ease and safety; the 3rd at Crown
Point; the 4th night at Skeensboro (now Whitehall) the 5th night at Fort Ann,
the 6th at Fort Edward - the 7th he has forgotten. The 8th arrived at Albany
where they remained two days to obtain conveyances down the North River. That
four sloops were obtained, one for the guard and two for the prisoners. That on
the evening before they sailed while lying by the wharf the applicant with two
others by the name of Platt and Hogins went a few rods from shore to a tavern to
obtained some cider; that while there the guard before moved off and they were
compelled to go on board the sloop which contained the prisoners and remain
there over night. That the next morning he informed the Captain of the Sloop how
they were situated and requested him to send them to there vessel. That the
Captain went with them and on the way informed them that the prisoners in the
rear sloop had had during the proceeding night obtained by the aid of some
Forces at Albany a box of arms and assaulted and confined the Captain and
Sailors on board their sloop and were prepared upon the first favorable breeze
to take the other vessels containing the prisoners and those run by or capture
the guard vessel and join and English ship of war by the name of Asia then lying
near New York. That upon Capt. Noll receiving information of the above
circumstance he sent the applicant with others who boarded the sloop took the
arms and ammunition unbound the Capt. And sailors and soon after landed on the
west side of the River and marched to Kingston and remained there until a
sufficient number of mailtia were raised to take the prisoners to Philadelphia -
That he having served nine months had a written discharge from Capt. Mott in
December of the same year which has long been lost.
That in March 1776 he enlisted in the Company for nine months commanded by Capt.
Lazarus Ruggles Liet Ashbel Ruggles Sargent Asa Warner and marched from New
Milford to White Plains and joined the main army at the that place under Gen.
Washington - That he with the army marched from there to New York remained there
for sometime, on different duties that upon their approach he with the army
fought upon the retreat back to White Plains during which he remembers that son
of Capt. Ruggles was taken prisoner with some others in his company. That he was
in the battle at White Plains which ensued and remembers that Capt. Ruggles was
wounded in the arm by a cannon ball. after which engagement the enemy retired to
New York. That in October of the same year being informed that his wife was
dangerously sick he hired a man for two months (at the end of which time the
term for which he had enlisted would have expired). When he received and
honorable discharge and returned immediately to New Milford having served under
this enlistment seven months.
Here by relinquished every claim whatever to the pension or annuity except the
present and declared that his name is no on the pension roll of the agency of
any state
Sworn and Subscribed
The day and year aforesaid Samuel Prindle
Eli B Smith a clergyman residing in Poultney in the County of Rutland and Amos
Thompson residing in the town of Poultney hereby certify that are well
aquatinted with Samuel Prindle of the said Poultney who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration and that we believe him to be 85 years of age. That hie
is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and Subscribed
The day and year aforesaid EB Smith, A Thompson
State of Vermont
Addison County
(the copy is extremely difficult to read) I, Truman Platt of XXXX in the County
of Addison and the State of Vermont now depose and say that I was born in New
Milford in Litchfield County in the State of Connecticut in Nov 1754 and was
aquatinted with and knew Samuel Prindle who was also born in the said New
Milford from the time that I was very young until about 15 years ago Samuel
Prindle now living in Poultney in the County of Rutland in the State of Vermont
and I now for this depose and say XXXXXX to the fact that in the Spring of 1775
said Samuel Prindle enlisted as Common soldier under Joseph Smith at the XXXXX
for 9 months went from there to XXXXX and with said join XXXX far as Albany and
he went from there to Ft Johns. The next year Samuel Prindle enlisted in New
Milford under Capt. Ruggles as a American Solder as was said for nine months I
depose that served his term for which he enlisted and for this your XXXX saith
not
August 29, 1832 Truman (his mark) Platt (witnessed Jos. Hayward / David Howe)